I finally have received several photos of the aftermath
of the flooding at Lake Lawrence. These will probably be
the last of the images I post. I intend to keep these images
available for quite some time on this site.

Thanks to all for the submitted photos
and thanks to those who have e-mailed in.

---->  Aftermath - Scroll down  <----


Sorry, no fancy stuff. I got this up as quick as I could.

These are photos of flooding in the Lawrence County, Illinois
area taken on June 10, 2008. I have attempted to describe each
photo and give an accurate location.
I have resized all photos so those with dial-up
connections can load images quicker.

UPDATES - Added more images on June 12th.
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Images added June 15th - Submitted by Sam Sievers of Vincennes.
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AERIAL IMAGES - ADDED JUNE 16th!! SUPER PHOTOS!!
(Scroll down)

More photos added June 17th - Some from a different area.
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Several photos added June 20th, including more aerial photos.
(Scroll down)

One last set of images added June 23rd.
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NOTICE!
Please feel free to use the images for you own purposes.
I only ask that you give credit where credit is due.
Please note that several of these have been contributed
by others and they deserve their credit.
Also, feel free to link back to this site.

smhardesty@fastmail.fm

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These were taken from the intersection of 1570E and 1500N, East of Pinkstaff at Allendale Gravel pit.

2443  Looking East
2444   North - There was NO water there 5 minutes earlier.
2445   Looking South from the South side of the pit.
2447  2448  2449  Allendale Gravel employees attempt to save property.
2477   Same location and direction as 2444 above - 1 hour later. Water was rising fast.
2533   Again, same location about 4 hours later.

2451   Rescue efforts by local area residents North of Sportsman's Club.


Many thanks to Sam Parker, Dusty Daugherty, and Brian Cook for the following pictures. With help from Dusty and Brian, Sam piloted me to the Embarrass River levee break located just West of Sportsman's Club. We left from the intersection of County roads 1400E and 1400N.

2454   The North edge of Sportsman's Club.
2455  2456   Water rushing through the tree line just North of the break.
2457   Headed around the treeline to the break.
2458   The West edge of the levee break. You can see the remaining levee at the right of the pic.
2459   The East edge of the break.
2460  2461  2462   Three pics of the Embarrass at the levee break. Current was unbelievably fast and strong.
2463  2464   Boat headed directly into the break area. Water was absolutely rushing through here.
2466   Closeup of the river right at the West edge of the break.
2467   Old pump station just West of the break.
2469  2470   North edge of the Sportsman's Club.
2471  2472  2474    Pics of Sportsman's Club.
2473  2475   Area Conservation Officer Brian Cork pilots his air boat while surveying flooded areas.
2476   Started and ended here. Yep, there is a stop sign under there.


2478  2479  2480  2481   Looking North from U.S. 50 between Lake Lawrence Road and Lawrenceville Airport exit.


2483  2484   On County Road 1100N, Just North of Bowler Transmission, looking Northeast toward Lawrenceville Airport.
2485  2486   On 1100N looking straight East.


2490  2491  2492   At the intersection of County Roads 070N and 1370E. South of St. Francisville.
2495   On County Road 150N. Between St. Francisville and Ill. Route 1.


2497   Sewage treatment plant on East side of Lawrenceville.
2498  2499   Intersection of 3rd Street and Christy Street in Lawrenceville.


The following pictures show just how fast the water was rising. Picture 2503 was taken less than 5 minutes after we drove through and there was no water there then. These were taken near the intersection of 1050N and 1760E, just West of the Lake Lawrence Road and just North of Route 50. The first three are looking Southeast.

2503   Start.
2504   2 minutes later.
2505   30 seconds later.
2506   Decided we better cross. Now looking Northwest. A minute and a half later.
2507   Another two minutes.
2511  And another two minutes later.  Less than ten minutes total!
2509  2510   Time lapse between these two photos is 20 seconds!


These were taken from the Northwest corner of Greenview Lake/Lake Lawrence, located at 1200N and 1900E.

2512   Looking South toward the West side of Lake Lawrence.
2514   Water rushing into the Southwest corner of Greenview Lake.
2516   Debris from fields floating across Greenview.
2519   Closeup of water boiling out of the East side of Lake Lawrence.
2520   Another shot of water coming out of Lake Lawrence.


2529  2530   Two pics just West of 1650E on 1450N, South of the Allendale Gravel pit.


2531   On 1600N between 1800E and 1900E - Fisher Gravel Pit. There was no water here 4 hours earlier.


ADDED JUNE 12th.

2535  2536   Just North of intersection of 1200N and 1900E - Lake Lawrence/Greenview - Looking South.
2540   Same location as above, but looking Southeast.
2546   Looking West on 1750E, just west of Ill. Route 33. (Birds Blacktop)

These photos courtesy Ryan Hardesty. Thanks Dutch!

00383   Water rushing through US Route 50 underpass.
00400   Straight South on Ill. Route 33 near 1200N - South of Russellville.
00454   Lake Sun and Sand - located at the Ill. 33 Exit off of US 50.
00505   Straight North up 1900E (Lake Lawrence Road) from US 50.
00516   Northeast from US 50. Sun and Sand on the right and Lake Lawrence on the far left.

00476  00487  00496   Shots of Westport, ILL. from Vincennes Memorial Bridge - A LOT of water.


ADDED JUNE 15th.

The following were submitted by Vincennes area resident Sam Sievers - some fantastic shots!

N0019  N0020   Westport from the Memorial Bridge - Note the airplanes evacuated from the airport.
N0025  N0026   More photos of Westport from the Memorial Bridge.



ADDED JUNE 16th.

These three images were forwarded to me by Barbara Holscher. She had received them in an e-mail. I'm unsure as to who took them. If you have any info on these, please contact me and I'll be sure and give proper credit.

0936   Lake Sun and Sand.
0944  0947   Lake Lawrence. As much as 6 feet of water in some of these homes.


The following have been contributed by Steve Ulrey of Palestine, IL. These are phenomenal! Thanks so much, Steve!!!
They were taken Sunday, June 15, 2008.


014  015   Crawford/Lawrence County line - Jim & Sandy Bryan's home.
017  018   Just North of Russellville, IL. White Owl Winery is on the right/center by the strut in photo 018.
019   South of Russellville. Norman Kocher/CFCO, Inc.
020  022   On Rte. 33. Vennard's and Benson Berries.
021  025   Grain bin on Rte. 33 South of Russellville.
029  032   Bilskie Trucking, just North of Robeson Hills.
033   Red Skelton Bridge
034  037  041  042     Westport area, including super pics of Westport Auto Sales.
035  039   Mahrenholz Center & Lasata Vineyards.
038   Clark Memorial and the Wabash River.
044   SW of Westport/O'Neal Airport.
047  049   The levee break on the Wabash, South of Westport/O'neal Airport.
050   Almost a futile effort. Sandbags near the levee break on the Wabash.
054   Floating oil tanks South of US 50, East of King's/May Chapel area. Environmental concerns?
055   Nothing but water.
059   Mid America Air Center
064   Allendale Gravel - East of Pinkstaff.


ADDED JUNE 17th.

These five images contributed by Phil & Debi Fish of Lawrenceville, IL. Thanks, guys!

5272   This was a common mode of transportation. Taken near 1400N & 1400E in Lawrence County.
5317   This was too common a site. Families temporarily relocating.
5392   Near George Rogers Clark Memorial from Memorial Bridge.
5409   Country Land Gift Shop at Westport from Memorial Bridge.
5423   Many homes in the area looked just like this.


The following were sent to me by Cyndi Beanblossom, who had received them in an e-mail. Thanks, Cyndi. Some great photos. I believe some of these pictures were taken on Applegate Road near Island Free Methodist Church, which is Northwest of Lawrenceville.

3207   I know I said "Get your asses in the boat", but,,,,,,,
3214   Not even Churches were spared.
3220  3237  3253   More signs of property damage/loss.
elb4  elb5   Embarrass Levee Break. (I think this was over in the Chauncey bottom - need help here)
1334   You could almost dock your boat on the RR Tracks.
1357  1358   Westport Auto Sales.
1374   Hank's in Westport.
ll2   Lake Lawrence area.
wlb6  wlb9   Wabash River Levee Break.


ADDED JUNE 20th.

I received the following five photos from Bob Davis of Sumner, IL. They were taken June 11th. Thanks Bob.

Flood001  Flood002   River bottom North of Chauncy, or Northeast of Landes. 1st looking North and 2nd looking East.
Flood003  Flood004  Flood005   View from the levee Northwest of Landes, on the blacktop to Oblong.


Sam Sterchi sent in the following photos from the Jasper & Richland Counties area. Really nice images!

3476   East of Old Stringtown Store looking East.
3480   East of Old Stringtown Store looking West.
3483  3484   The Old Boyscout camp bridge across the Embarras near the   Richland/Jasper/Crawford lines.
3492   Pond Grove on Ste. Marie Road 3 miles South of Ste. Marie, looking North.
3490   Area known as Rafetown, looking East from the 50N and 2025E. The dead river bridge is completely underwater(infront of the vehicles). The cars and trucks are on the levee, followed by about a mile of bottom land before the Rafetown bridge across the Embarras.  The levee broke in a couple places in this area. Several people had to be rescued and evacuated.
Greenbrier   Looking North from Greenbrier Bridge near Chauncey.
Newton   Just north of Newton on Hwy 130/Hwy 33.
Rafetown   Looking to the South from the Rafetown intersection.
Ste. Marie   Looking north from the bridge at Ste. Marie.


The following aerial photos were forwarded to me by Mike Zimmerle from Olney, IL. SUPER PICTURES! These were taken June 10th & 11th.

Barn   Barn near O'Neal Airport. Wesport area.
Minderman   Earl minderman farm.
Sawmill   Ford Sawmill - Vincennes, IN.
Law  Law1  Law2  Law3   Lake Lawrence.
LevBreak   Levee break East of O'Neal Airport - Westport area.
Airport Rd.   Lawrenceville Airport road.
Airport   West side of Lawrenceville Airport.
Bridge   Memorial Bridge. Clark Memorial on left of picture.
O'Neal  O'Neal2   O'Neal Airport.
Westport   Westport, IL area.
White River   West side if White River(Indiana) shows US 50 underwater.


ADDED JUNE 23rd.

Finally got some photos from Old 50 East of Lawrenceville, IL. Thanks to Jennifer and James for sending them to me.

These six photos were taken by Dean Lockhart and submitted to me by Jennifer Lockhart. Thanks to both!

wrlb1  wrlb2   The break in the Wabash River Levee.
jlockhart   Janet Lockhart house on old 50, East of Lawrenceville.
bodyshop   Lockhart Body Shop.
barn   Mahrenholz barn.
taterfarm   Potato farm on old 50.


The following were sent by James Bell. These were taken while Old 50 was still accessible. Water continued to raise. Thanks, James.

596  624   Home of James Bell. Water eventually rose to just over the eaves.
606   Water reached about 6" over the top of the 7' garage doors.
618   On Old 50 looking toward Vincennes, IN. Water eventually completely covered this bridge.
628   Evacuation of Billingsley Construction. Water was rising 3-4 inches every 15 minutes and ended up with over 2’ inside building.

ADDED JULY 5th.


The following images were sent to me by Steve Ulrey from Palestine. They show some of the destruction and devastation after the flood. There is no description, as none is really needed. Cleanup is still in progess and will take a considerable time.

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